The story of a little girl meeting a wolf while she brings her grandmother food is one of the most frequently adapted fairy tales of all time (Orenstein Uncloaked 6f.). In Germany, the girl is known as “Rotkäppchen”, in English-speaking countries she is “Little Red Riding Hood”, in France she is “Le petit chaperon rouge”, and in Spain she is “Caperucita Roja”. The general plot remains; however, various authors have adapted the way it is told to the social norms of their times. Two of the best known adaptations are the Brothers’ Grimm Rotkäppchen and Charles Perrault’s Le Petit Chaperon Rouge which were based upon the oral tale The Grandmother (Marshall 263). Both adaptations’ contents and connotations have changed over time. The Brothers Grimm even published multiple versions of Rotkäppchen and modified it several times. The question needs to be asked why a story, which is shared by so many cultures, is told differently and changes in its content.
The tale that is nowadays commonly known as a children’s story started of as a tale of seduction (Orenstein Dances with Wolves). The audience was fully aware of the sexual connotations contained within The Grandmother. Perrault’s tale was meant to amuse as well as to warn women about sexual advances. Rotkäppchen, however, lost most of its former sexual connotations, barely pointing to the obscenity contained within the original tale.
This paper seeks to analyze one particular adaption in content: the loss of sexual connotations in Grimm’s Rotkäppchen in comparison to Perrault’s Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, which were both based upon the oral tale The Grandmother. The demonstration shows how the general views of society affect the content and the inferred meanings comprised within a tale. The Grandmother is introduced as the primary source of Perrault’s Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, followed by a comparative analysis of Le Petit Chaperon Rouge and Grimm’s Rotkäppchen. The tales will be examined in order to find out to what extent sexuality plays a role. Ideals and views of the times will be applied to the findings in order to argue that they are accountable for the decrease in sexual content.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Comparative Analysis of Perrault and the Brothers Grimm
2.1 The influence of societal norms on fairy tales
2.2 Analysis of The Grandmother and sexual connotations
2.3 Perrault's Le Petit Chaperon Rouge and the French Court
2.4 The Brothers Grimm and Romanticism
3. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the evolution of the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood" from its oral origins to the versions of Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, specifically focusing on the systematic reduction of sexual connotations over time in response to shifting societal values and moral expectations.
- The role of the oral tale "The Grandmother" as a precursor
- Sexual symbolism in early folk traditions vs. later versions
- Impact of the 18th-century French Court on Perrault's narrative
- Influence of Romanticism and 19th-century educational norms on the Brothers Grimm
- The moral and social functions of fairy tales for children
Excerpt from the Book
Sexual connotations in Perrault’s Le Petit Chaperon Rouge and Brothers’ Grimm Rotkäppchen.
The story of a little girl meeting a wolf while she brings her grandmother food is one of the most frequently adapted fairy tales of all time (Orenstein Uncloaked 6f.). Barnes and Nobles, for example, sells more than one hundred different editions of the story. In Germany, the girl is known as “Rotkäppchen”, in English-speaking countries she is “Little Red Riding Hood”, in France she is “Le petit chaperon rouge”, and in Spain she is “Caperucita Roja”. In those name variations the color red always appears and it could be assumed that the story is always told the same. The general plot remains; however, various authors have adapted the way it is told to the social norms of their times.
The little girl with her red cap appears even on television, billboards, advertisements, children’s games, or in adult jokes (Orenstein Uncloaked 3). Two of the best known adaptations are the Brothers’ Grimm Rotkäppchen and Charles Perrault’s Le Petit Chaperon Rouge which were based upon the oral tale The Grandmother (Marshall 263). Both adaptations’ contents and connotations have changed over time. The Brothers Grimm even published multiple versions of Rotkäppchen and modified it several times. The question needs to be asked why a story, which is shared by so many cultures, is told differently and changes in its content.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the history of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story and outlines the paper's focus on how social norms have dictated the content of its various adaptations.
2. Comparative Analysis of Perrault and the Brothers Grimm: This section details how Perrault adapted the story to the sensibilities of the French Court and how the Brothers Grimm later reshaped it according to the ideals of Romanticism and 19th-century child education.
3. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes how the loss of sexual content in the tale is a direct result of changing societal ideals and expectations regarding childhood and morality.
Keywords
Little Red Riding Hood, fairy tales, sexual connotations, societal norms, Charles Perrault, Brothers Grimm, The Grandmother, oral traditions, Romanticism, moral education, sexual socialization, symbolism, cultural heritage, adaptation, virginity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this paper?
The paper explores the evolution of the "Little Red Riding Hood" fairy tale and analyzes why its narrative content—specifically its sexual undertones—changed significantly across different historical periods.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the impact of societal norms on literature, the transition from oral folk traditions to written versions, the role of moral education for children, and historical views on sexuality and maturation.
What is the core research question?
The research asks how shifting societal values and moral frameworks in different centuries influenced the content of "Little Red Riding Hood" adaptations, specifically leading to the removal of original sexual connotations.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a comparative analysis method, evaluating the differences between the oral tale "The Grandmother," Perrault’s "Le Petit Chaperon Rouge," and the Brothers Grimm's "Rotkäppchen" against the backdrop of historical social contexts.
What does the main body of the work address?
It analyzes the French Court's influence on Perrault's writing and the influence of 19th-century Romanticism and industrialization on the Brothers Grimm's pedagogical adjustments to their collection of fairy tales.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as sexual connotations, societal norms, fairy tale adaptation, moral education, and cultural history.
How did the French Court influence Perrault’s version of the tale?
Perrault adapted the tale to satisfy a courtly audience that was familiar with decadence and extramarital affairs, while simultaneously introducing a moral tone to warn against promiscuity.
Why did the Brothers Grimm alter their stories for children?
They aimed to align the tales with 19th-century parental expectations, which prioritized the moral education of children and the protection of their innocence by removing "harmful" passages.
What does the color "red" signify in the discussed adaptations?
The color red, specifically in the protagonist's cap, is interpreted as a symbol of immorality, scandal, and the transition into sexual maturity.
Does the girl in the story represent a specific archetype?
Yes, she represents a young girl transitioning from childhood to womanhood, with her journey often serving as a metaphor for sexual socialization or a warning against social deviation.
- Citation du texte
- Juliane Schicker (Auteur), 2008, Reading “Rotkäppchen“ , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/121097
